The Humane Thing To Do

Volunteer Gives Her Time, Love To Animals

SMITHFIELD — Cats, dogs, rabbits - it doesn't matter which genus of love on four feet you favor. When tongues are wagging about some animal's tale of woe, Debbie LeClair's not far behind.

So it should come as no surprise that she's an active member of the Isle of Wight Humane Society, a non-profit organization that's been serving the community for nearly 20 years.

LeClair, 40, grew up with a family pet, a poodle. She's branched out since then.

"I'm chasing ducks later today," she says. "I've already found someone to take them."

Directions to her house include more than route numbers and right turns. "If you've found the donkey in the pen across the road, you've found my house," she says. She asks you to exercise caution. "I have a bunny that comes up to cars," LeClair says. "Her name is Sweetie."

LeClair and her husband, Joe, a truck driver, share their home with four cats, all of which they've taken in. "They mean the world to me," says LeClair.

Cross the threshold and Leo, blind Ted and Oreo sashay up to you, giving you the once-over sniff. Nibbles, the fourth feline, is nowhere to be found. "He's a big chicken," LeClair says.

Her love affair with the hungry and the homeless of the animal kingdom began one day when she was taking some trash to the Dumpster. "In it was a bunch of kittens. 'No, no, this isn't right,'" LeClair said to her husband. "It prompted me to make phone calls to find out where the humane society was."

She's been a woman on a mission ever since. "When you have to put yourself into something, other than helping your family - for me, it's the humane society," says LeClair.

Sometimes, LeClair's effort consists of taking an animal to the vet. Sometimes, it's bottle-feeding a kitten that a good samaritan has found and brought to her door. "Cats. Cat fur. Cat dust. It's like this every day. Come here, Ted," she coos.

The society holds its meetings at the Isle of Wight County Library/Smithfield Branch. One of the group's key programs is heightening awareness of the danger of pet overpopulation. "I figured, instead of griping about it," LeClair says, "why not get involved?"

When money in the budget permits, the society helps an owner bear the expense of having his cat or dog "fixed," which can run $100 or more. At the very least, the society has applications for a reduced-cost certificate through the Tidewater Humane Spay/Neuter Assistance Program. With the certificate presented to a participating vet, such as Rogers Veterinary Hospital in Smithfield, the procedure ranges from $30 to $45, which is paid to Tidewater Humane.

LeClair and the other society members get out to talk to the public whenever possible about the humane treatment of animals; they have literature available. They talk to school groups. "Debbie's really good with the kids," says Bob Howell, the chief over at the animal shelter. The shelter works closely with the society, which supplies the booster vaccine used to inoculate kittens and puppies being adopted through the shelter.

Joe LeClair has designed a computer program for his wife's humane society material, which threatens to overtake their dining area. She generates the pet adoption forms, notes thanking people for donations of time or money, sympathy cards to owners whose pets have died and the newsletter, which comes out four or five times a year. LeClair could use some help. She says she's one of only about 10 active society members.

"There's always that money factor, needing funds because we're a non-profit organization," she says. "But it's also about the time factor - people time. You might not be able to bottle-feed a kitten and then lose it. But maybe you can help raise money or work on our forms or newsletter."

DEBBIE LECLAIR

NAME: Debbie LeClair

AGE: 40

HOME: Smithfield

FAMILY: Husband, Joe; extended family in Smithfield and Charlottesville, and in Richmond, Maine

LICENSE PLATE READS: "I'm Animal Friendly." This message appears centered under the space where the license plate's numbers or personalized message goes. A portion of the annual fee for this special revenue- sharing license plate benefits Isle of Wight's animal control.

FAVORITE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Boating, camping, cross-stitch

QUOTE: "People make a difference, animal-wise, if they get involved."

INFORMATION

How to help the Isle of Wight Humane Society:

* Become a volunteer. Call Debbie LeClair at 365- 0428.

* Support society fund-raisers, such as "Paws To Recycle." Through November, dated receipts from aluminum cans taken for recycling will yield coupons for cases of free pet food through the Friskies Pet Care Co. Inc. The society needs the dated receipts. Pet food received through the program will be distributed to the local animal shelter and veterinary hospitals.

* Make a donation. Write a check to the Isle of Wight Humane Society and mail it to P.O. Box 273, Smithfield 23430.